Annihilation (film)

Annihilation is a 2018 science fiction psychological horror film written and directed by Alex Garland, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer.

The film follows a team of five scientists and soldiers who enter "The Shimmer," a mysterious quarantined zone that has appeared in the United States. The Shimmer is an expanding energy field causing mutations and distortions to flora and fauna within its boundaries.

The expedition team, led by biologist Lena (Natalie Portman), consists of a physicist, an anthropologist, a psychologist, and a paramedic, all women with their own personal demons and motivations for entering the zone. Lena's primary motivation is to understand what happened to her husband, Kane (Oscar Isaac), a soldier who returned from a previous mission into The Shimmer with no memory of his experiences.

Inside The Shimmer, the team encounters increasingly bizarre and dangerous creatures and landscapes, all affected by the zone's unique properties. Time and space are distorted, and the laws of physics seem to operate differently. The expedition members grapple with their own sanity as they confront their inner selves and the implications of the Shimmer's existence.

The film explores themes of self-destruction, transformation, identity, and the unknown nature of the universe. It is known for its visually stunning imagery, unsettling atmosphere, and ambiguous ending that invites multiple interpretations. Annihilation received critical acclaim for its originality, performances, and thought-provoking narrative.